Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has organised Mental Health Conference under the theme ‘Promoting the Mental Health of Men in a Gender Sensitive Armed Forces’ on Wednesday 10 July 2024, at the Burma Hall.

Addressing the conference, Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Thomas Oppong-Peprah stated that the issue of mental health stigma among men in the Armed Forces has resulted in reluctance to seek help, hence urged all to stay away from stigma and seek help without discouragement.

The CDS further emphasised the importance of early intervention, support, and the need for regular mental health screening programs. He entreated participants to attend upcoming sessions for assessment and support.

The Deputy Chief Clinical Psychologist at the 37 Military Hospital Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Francis Tenteh, stressed the need to reduce stigmatization and promote proactive stress management.

He touched on the importance of self-care, stress management and seeking professional help when needed. He urged participants to delegate tasks, build meaningful relationships and prioritize spirituality to support personal and professional growth.

He called for the implementation of initiatives to promote mental health awareness, reduce stigma and ensure support and resources are available for men to maintain good mental health.

The Senior Clinical Health Psychologist at the 37 Military Hospital, Miss Anita Paddy expressed deep concerns over the prevalence of mental health issues including depression, anxiety and trauma and the need for resources to manage mental well-being. She emphasized on the importance of maintaining positive relationships and addressing mental health stigma.